Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-03-31
IN THE PALACE OF POVERTY.
The Wearing Work Which Mr.. Powderly Is
Doing.


A majority of the members of the gen.
eral executive board of the Knights of
Labor are now in the city, and it is ex-
pected that within a few days the remain
ing members will arrive, writes Phila
delphia correspondent of The York Times.
General Master Workman Powderly came
here early in the week, as did t. B. Ma
guire, of district assembly No. 49, of New
York. Powderly doesn't look we'll. His
face is pale and thin and wears a very
tired and careworn expression. Ordln-
arlly his complexion is bright and fresh,
but whenEour CORES pondent saw him last
evening at the Bingham house the change
for the worse in his appearance was quite
noticeable. His face looks almost hag
gard, and his blue eyes appear weary and
do not flash behind his glasses as they
used to do. The work which he is obliged
to do is breaking up his health.
To direct the workings of such body
of ignorant and discordant elements as
the Knights of Labor is herculean task,
and for over year since the great south
west strike, Powderly has constantly over
taxed his strength. A large proportion of
the order blindly insists on his answering
their petty inc uiries and complaints in
person, aud this renders it needful for
him to work sixteen and eighteen hours
day. Consequently, with the great strain
thus occasioned, he losses sleep and is
burdened with care. His associates on
the general executive board do nothing in
comparison with him.
Ihe numerous expressions of dissatis-
faction at the purchase of the North Broad
street palace that have been heard on
every hand have evidently caused Mr..
Powderly great deal of annoyance. He
took occasion yesterday to issue public
statement concerning it in the official
organ of the order, known as The Journal
of United Labor, and conducted by
Charles II. Litchman, the general secre-
tar. In the statement he explains and
defends the action of the general board
in purchasing the palace. He says:
"The general executive board, in pur-
chasing new headquarters, did not act
hastily, but made careful inquiry as to
where property would be likely to sell the
best in case it becomes necessary to sell
again. TIE property of Mrs. Baird, on
Broad street, Philadelphia, was offered for
sale. We investigated carefully, and
found that it was a frst-class property
and WAS worth $4,000. The house, barn,
outbuildings and lot cost $11S,OOO in cash.
By discreet management it was obtained
for $45, OOO-$5,O00 less than the sum
which the general assembly voted for the
purchase of a suitable place. There is
plenty of room, good light, and accom-
modations. 1t is within eight squares of
the public buildings and the Pennsylvania
railroad at Broad street. When it was
purchased several costly articles of furni-
ture and household fxings, which could
not be used by the owner elsewhere, were
thrown in with the building, and are now
the property of the order. Since we have
removed the headquarters to that building
we have been offered $4,000 more than
we gave for it by one party and $4,000
by another"
Nobody disputes the bargain secured in
the purchase by the knights of Labor,
but it is doubtful if Mr.. Powderly's state
ment will satisfactorily explain away to
critical and sober-minded members OF the
order the imputation of extravaganza and
luxuriousness in having such an establish
ment as the North Broad street palace for
| headquarters of the sons of toll. In the
| publication of this statement by Mr..
Powderly exclusively in the Knights
official organ there is a significance that
| is not known to the general public. 1t
might be asked why the daily papers Of
this or other cities did not obtain from
Mr.. Powderly an interview upon this very
subject. The answer is readily gived
that he absolutely refuses to speak On
any question for publication in ''the cap
italistic press" Ever since the Rich
mOnd session of the general assembly
last October, at which the bitter contro-
versy arose between him and the cor
respondent of the leading public journals
| represented IN his newspaper class" Mr..
Powderly has had what may be called a
most aggravated case of newspaper dis
gust. Before that time he could be in
terviewed frequently enough, but now
he refuses point blank to say anything to
representatives of the press, declaring,
when asked for information on any
point. 81 don't know" or I haven't a
word to say.
Mr.. powderly usually goes up to the
North Broad street palace between and
10 O'Clock in the morning, and tolls there
steadily until evening. At O'Clock he
returns to the Bingham house, takes din
ner, and then goes to the theater or takes
brisk walk about the city. When out
walking he carefully muffies up his neck
and throat, and in his exercise he travels
ground to cover III limited time. Most
ly he walks alone, but sometime with his
confidential friend and colleague, john
w. Hayes. After the theater or walk he
returns to the hotel and devotes several
hours to work He rarely retires before
l O'Clock.